Painting & Drawing

Our reputation is founded upon our deep commitment to personal expression, experimentation, and risk taking, while remaining rooted in the unique fundamentals of history and methodology

New Mexico, with its rich cultural heritage and stunning variety of landscapes has been a magnet for artists for a long time. Early in the 20th century Professor Raymond Jonson was drawn to New Mexico from Chicago and was instrumental in forming the Transcendentalist Painting Group, an innovative group of non-objective painters that include such luminaries as Florence Pierce and Agnes Pelton.

During the 20th century, artists such as Richard Diebenkorn and Agnes Martin have been associated with the school. Close connection to Native American and Hispanic fine arts traditions energized these European traditions of painting—this energy continues into the 21st century, and New Mexico is home to many contemporary artists.